From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil. E. Frankweiler by E.L. Konigsburg

From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil. E. Frankweiler by E.L. Konigsburg is considered a classic by many and is also a Newbery award winner from the 1960’s.  I'd heard it was a story about two kids who run away from home in an unusual way.  I was intrigued.  So I picked it up and found out that the story is just as clever and cute as I’d hoped, and the characters are realistic and lovable.  Claudia Kincaid, a 12-year-old straight-A perfectionist, does not want to pull off that "old-fashioned kind of running away... in the heat of anger with a knapsack on [your] back," so instead she arranges to run towards something.  So she recruits her brother, Jamie, mostly because he has money saved up, and they go to a large, comfortable, beautiful place- the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City.  Between keeping their residency a secret and trying to solve the mystery of a controversial statue, the two have plenty to keep them busy.  This book kept me guessing ‘til the end!

Book reviewed by Erin E., Youth Programming Librarian

Thunder From the Sea by Joan Hiatt Harlow

Thunder From the Sea by Joan Hiatt Harlow takes place in Newfoundland in 1929.  Thirteen-year-old orphan Tom Campbell has just found a much longed for home on Back O' The Moon Island with fisherman Enoch Murray and his wife, Fiona.  Tom is shy and nervous when he first arrives at their home but is overjoyed when he rescues a dog during a storm at sea and is allowed to keep him.  He names the dog Thunder.  Tom and Thunder really start to feel like part of the family until the Murrays find out that Fiona is pregnant.  Then to make matters worse, a mean neighbor and his son think Thunder should belong to them.  What will happen when the sea captain, the original owner of Thunder, comes to the Island?  Will Tom get to keep him?  Will Tom even be staying on the island once the baby is born?  I’m not telling.  Read Thunder of the Sea to find out!

Book reviewed by Julie D., Elementary School Liaison

Standard Hero Behavior by John David Anderson

What do you do when your town is going to be attacked by goblins, trolls, and other creatures, and you find out the town’s hero is a fake? Well, Mason Quayle, in Standard Hero Behavior by John David Anderson, decides to go on a quest for a hero, maybe even become one himself. Mason is joined in his quest by his best friend Cowel, a quill salesman. Along the way they meet all sorts of possible heroes and unusual characters, including a man who sword fights in his sleep, the daughter of two heroes, a werewolf hit man, an attractive young witch, and some angry pixies. Mason also finds out what happened to his hero father, who disappeared on a quest many years ago. Does Mason find a hero? Is the town saved from the goblin attack? Read the book and find out!

Book Reviewed by Keary D., Youth Collection Specialist Librarian

The OK Book by Amy Krouse Rosenthal and Tom Litchenheld

Does it seem like you try to do a lot of different things but can’t seem to do all of them very well? You can swim, but you are not the best. Maybe you play baseball, but not really well. Perhaps you can flip pancakes, catch bugs, even blow bubbles with juicy bubblegum, but still need a lot more practice. Well, I think that The OK Book by Amy Krouse Rosenthal and Tom Litchenheld is just the book for you !  This is a simple yet clever picture book that teaches that we all are OK at a lot of things, and that it’s OK to not be perfect.  Just have fun doing whatever you do, and keep on trying your very best.  One day you will see that you are amazingly good at something, and it's good to be OK at just about everything else.

Book reviewed by Darice C., Library Assistant